At Valentine’s Day, one thinks of love. In my case, I decorate our house for the season with heart-shaped soaps in the bathroom and homemade heart art projects placed around the rest of the house. I even get out the old Underwood typewriter with stationery in case anyone would like to type a little love note the old-fashioned way— without spell-check and a printer… You even have to use the backspace to make an exclamation point so you know they really mean it if you get a letter with lots of !!!!!’s.
Just where is the best place to look for love? My “Jersey- Girl” friend found love in a lowfat soy latte at the In Hot Water a couple of weeks ago. When the cup came to her, there it was, a perfect heart floating in the froth. Then it stayed! You could still see the heart at the bottom of the cup just waiting to put a smile on her face. It was “a hug in a mug.”
In grade school love was the boy on the playground most likely to hit you. Because everyone knows that is how young boys show their affection. A gentle shove would not do it because that might just be irritation. I was poked in the eye once on the jungle gym but my head might have just gotten in the way—he was really aiming for the girl next to me.
By high school you knew it was love if a boy took the time to dial all seven of the numbers on the phone and called you up. He might not say too much…lots of silent mind reading and small talk… but in your heart you knew it was love because simply…he dialed, he called.
Some of my best memories are of talking (or not talking) on the phone for hours on end with that special someone. Just to know we were connected across the miles by a phone line… ear-to-ear… it just doesn’t get much better than that. Well, a good love note could make or break the deal as well. Here’s an old favorite…Dear Sandy I really, really, really like you. Yeah!
P.S. I am sorry I kissed your friend this summer. Huh?
I now look for love in rocks. Heart shaped rocks along the beach or driveway. I also like rocks with a heart running through the veins. Last March I found the perfect rock to give my husband for our anniversary along the shore of Lake Superior east of town by Croftville. Yes, I was the crazed woman wading ankle deep in freezing waters just to find the one I wanted. (It took two Bloody Marys and a Lightning Lemonade to get the feeling back in my toes but it was worth it.) I am sure that every time he sees that rock sitting in front of the fireplace he thinks, “Wow, she is crazy, but she really loves me.”
Here
Let us all agree to show
our love for that someone special this year, be it in a cup of soy latte, a phone call, a rock or a special love note (minus the confession). With my heart, I wish you all the best!
God gave us: Two hands to
hold. Two legs to walk. Two
eyes to see. Two ears to listen.
But why give us only one heart?
Because he gave the other to
someone else. For us to find.
Unknown
Sweet Dreams Soup
Ingredients
bb1 small potato,
peeled and chopped
bb2 tablespoons butter
bb1 cup leek, chopped
bb2 large carrots, finely chopped
bb
1/8 teaspoon powdered ginger
bb¼ teaspoon thyme
bb
1/8 tsp nutmeg
bb¼ teaspoon salt
bb½ teaspoon pepper
bbOne stalk celery, chopped
bb2 ½ cups milk
bbGarnish: croutons
Di rections
Boil the potato in two cups of water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain, save the broth, and set the potato aside. Melt butter in a soup pot on medium heat. Add the leek, half the carrots, the ginger, thyme, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Sauté for five minutes, stirring with a wooden spoon. Add the celery, the remaining carrots, the cooked potato, and the potato broth. Add one cup water, and stir. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer, covered, until the carrots are tender, about 20 minutes. In a blender or a bowl, blend or mash two cups of the soup with the milk until thick and silky smooth. Return the blended soup to the soup pot, and stir. Ladle into bowls and garnish.
Brownie Kisses
serves 12
Ingredients
bb1 package (1lb 3.8 oz.)
fudge brownie mix
bb¼ cup water
bb½ cup vegetable oil
bb2 eggs
bb1¼ cups vanilla milk chips
bbAbout 25 milk chocolate kisses
with white chocolate stripes,
unwrapped
bb1 ½ teaspoon shortening
Di rections
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of spring form pan, 9×3 inches. Stir brownie mix (dry), water, oil, eggs and one cup of the vanilla milk chips in medium bowl about 50 strokes with spoon or until well blended. Spread in pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted two inches from side of pan comes out clean or almost clean. Immediately place chocolate kisses around outside edge of brownie. Cool completely. Remove side of pan. Place remaining 1/4-cup vanilla milk chips and the shortening in re-sealable plastic sandwich bag; seal. Microwave on high about 30 seconds or until chips are melted. Knead chips until smooth. Cut small corner from bag. Drizzle melted chips over top of brownie. Cut into wedges.
Exotic Love Tea
Ingredients
bb1 cup water
bb¼ cup honey
bb1 cup apple juice
bb¼ teaspoon cinnamon
bb6 Celestial Seasonings
Cranberry Cove Tea Bags
Di rections
Bring water and juice to a boil. Stir in honey and cinnamon. Add the tea bags. Remove from heat. Let stand for one hour. Add six cups of cold water Pour into glasses with ice. Sit back, sip and fall in love. Can be stored in the refrigerator for three days.
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